Shrub rose plant named &#39;Baiief&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of landscape shrub rose plant is provided which abundantly forms on a substantially continuous basis in clusters attractive double deep pink blossoms with a white eye. As the Blossoms mature, they fade to an attractive range of pale pink to hot pink. The blossoms also display a slight sweet rose fragrance. The plant exhibits a small, dense compact and bushy growth habit, attractive semi-glossy medium green foliage, and good tolerance to Black Spot and Powdery Mildew. The attractive medium green semi-glossy foliage contrasts nicely with the deep pink blossom coloration. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens. The plant performs well in front of a border, as a low hedge, or in a container.

BOTANICAL COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘BAIief’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida landscape shrub rose plant was created at Yamhill, Oreg., U.S.A., during 1997 by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the Miniature ‘TRObwich’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The ‘TRObwich’ variety sometimes is known as the ‘Simon Robinson’ variety. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the Miniature ‘JACcasp’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,719). The ‘JACcasp’ variety sometimes is known as the ‘Happy Trails’ variety. The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:

‘TRObwich’×‘Happy Trails’

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification during 1999 of a single plant of the new variety having the distinctive ornamental characteristics hereafter described.

It was found that the new variety of the present invention:

-   -   (a) exhibits a compact and bushy growth habit,     -   (b) forms on a substantially continuous basis in clusters         attractive double deep pink blossoms with a white eye,     -   (c) forms attractive semi-glossy medium green foliage,     -   (d) is highly tolerant to Black Spot and Powdery Mildew, and     -   (e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive         ornamentation in parks and gardens.

As the blossoms mature, they fade to an attractive range of pale pink to hot pink.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can be grown to advantage in the landscape where attractive ornamentation is desired. The pink blossoms contrast nicely with the semi-glossy medium green foliage. The plant grows well in front of a border, as a low hedge, or in a container. An attractive new shrub rose that can be grown in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 4 to 9 is provided.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from other varieties including its ancestors. For instance, the ‘TRObwich’ variety forms medium pink blossoms having a diameter of approximately 3 cm that possess 5 petals, and the ‘JACcasp’ variety forms medium pink very double blossoms having a diameter of approximately 4 cm and forms glossy dark green foliage. The blossoms are much like those of ‘The Fairy’ variety (non-patented in the United States) except the color is deep pink and an attractive white eye is present.

The new variety beginning in August 1998 has been found to undergo asexual propagation by budding on an understock and by the rooting of cuttings. ‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock was used during the budding. Such asexual propagation by these techniques at Yamhill, Oreg., U.S.A., St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A., and at Phoenix, Ariz., U.S.A., has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety reproduces true to type. The new variety grows well on its own roots.

Initially the new plant was designated 97K-100. The new plant has been named the ‘BAIief’ variety, and currently is being marketed while using the GARDEN PATH, LITTLE MISCHIEF, and EASY ELEGANCE trademarks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this character, typical specimens of the new variety. The rose plants of the new variety had been propagated by the rooting of cuttings, were approximately two and three years of age, and were being grown outdoors during the 2003 and 2004 seasons at St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A., and at Yamhill, Oreg., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 illustrates from a distance a mass of typical plants of the new variety wherein the pink blossoms with a white eye and dense medium green foliage are shown.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of typical blossoms and foliage of the new variety.

FIG. 3 illustrates an additional view of the typical pink blossoms of the new variety at various stages of maturity as well as the foliage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). Common color terms are to be accorded their ordinary dictionary significance. The description is based on the observation of two, three and four year-old plants while grown outdoors on their own roots during June 2003, at Yamhill Oreg., U.S.A., and during July 2004 at St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida, var. ‘BAIief’. -   Class: Landscape Shrub. -   PLANT:     -   -   height.—approximately 50 to 60 cm at the end of the growing             season.         -   width.—approximately 60 cm on average at the end of the             growing season.         -   habit.—rounded, compact and bushy. -   Branches:     -   -   color.—young stems: Yellow-Green Group 144A suffused with             Greyed-Purple Group 187A and 187B. — adult wood:             Yellow-Green Group 146B with streaks of Greyed-Green Group             197A.         -   thorns.—size: approximately 0.3 cm in length on average. —             color: Red-Purple Group 59B and 59C. -   Leaves:     -   -   stipules.—generally parallel with the auricle facing             outward.         -   petioles.—upper surface: Green Group 143A in coloration and             somewhat flat with a central valley. — under surface:             Yellow-Green Group 144B in coloration, and bears some small             prickles.         -   leaflets.—number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. — shape:             generally obovate to elliptic with a rounded base and an             acuminate tip. — margin: serrulate. — texture: bears a             semi-glossy finish. — length: approximately 2.0 to 2.75 cm             on average. — width: approximately 1.25 to 1.75 cm on             average. — general appearance: medium green with a             semi-glossy surface when mature. — color (young foliage):             upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 146A and 146B commonly             with a lighter central valley of Green Group 138C. under             surface: Yellow-Green Group 146C. — color (adult foliage):             upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 146A and 146B with a             lighter central valley of Green Group 138C. under surface:             Yellow-Green Group 146C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   number of flowers.—commonly approximately 28 blooms on             average in a cluster per lateral stem.         -   peduncle.—between Yellow-Green Group 144B and 144C suffused             with Red-Purple Group 59A on the upper side and commonly             covered with prickles of Red-Purple Group 59A on the under             side.         -   sepals.—upper surface: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144B             suffused with Green Group 143A, and tomentose. — under             surface: Green Group 143A and lightening to Green Group 145B             at the margin. — size: approximately 1.25 cm in length.         -   buds.—shape: globose. — size: small. — length: approximately             2 cm on average. — diameter: approximately 1.75 cm on             average. — color: upper petal surface: Red-Purple Group 60C.             under petal surface: Red-Purple Group 60B.         -   flower.—arrangement: in a cluster or compound panicle. —             diameter: approximately 2.5 cm on average. — form: double. —             color (when opening begins): upper surface: Red-Purple Group             57A blending with Red-Purple Group 64C and 64D, and White             Group 155B toward the basal petal spot. under surface:             Red-Purple Group 57D blended with Red-Purple Group 57A at             the margin. — color (when blooming): upper surface:             Red-Purple Group 66A blending with Red-Purple Group 67B and             White Group 155D toward the basal petal spot. under surface:             between Red-Purple Group 66C and 66D. — color (at end of             blooming): upper surface: Red-Purple Group 67D blending with             Red-Purple Group 65A and 65B and with White Group 155D             toward the basal petal spot. under surface: Red-Purple Group             65A blended with Red-Purple Group 68A and 68B. — color             (basal petal spot): Yellow Group 2D. — fragrance: slight             sweet rose. — lasting quality: the blossoms commonly last             approximately 4 to 7 days on average depending upon the             temperature and sunlight exposure. — petal number: commonly             approximately 19 to 24 on average under normal growing             conditions. — petal shape: generally heart-shaped. — petal             drop: commonly the petals detach cleanly at full blossom             maturity and do not detract from other young blooms. —             anthers: Yellow-Orange Group 17A in coloration. — filament             number: commonly approximately 37 on average. — filament             color: Yellow-Green Group 145B. — pistils: approximately 15             on average, and are separate and free. — stigmas:             Yellow-Green Group 151A in coloration. — styles:             Yellow-Green Group 154B in coloration. — hips: obovate in             configuration, approximately 1 cm in length and             approximately 8 mm in width. — seeds: medium beige in             coloration and approximately 3 mm in length. -   Development:     -   -   vegetation.—vigorous, compact and dense.         -   blooming.—substantially continuous, everblooming.         -   resistance to diseases.—highly tolerant to Black Spot, and             Powdery Mildew.         -   hardiness zone.—U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 4 to 9. 

1. A new and distinct variety of landscape shrub rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a compact and bushy growth habit, (b) forms on a substantially continuous basis in clusters attractive double deep pink blossoms with a white eye, (c) forms attractive semi-glossy medium green foliage, (d) is highly tolerant to Black Spot and Powdery Mildew, and (e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens; substantially as herein shown and described. 